Madam President,
Esteemed Natalia Kanem, Executive Director,
Dear members of the Executive Board and other delegations,
We thank the UNFPA Executive Director for her relevant and substantive statement and the members of the Bureau for the preparations and documentation submitted for this session.
We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the dedication and the results achieved by UNFPA in its coordinated and comprehensive response to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on many of its thematic areas, such as those related to gender equality, vulnerable groups and family planning, among others.
My delegation appreciates the support provided by the Population Fund in areas under its mandate to Cuba's national efforts, as shown by the entity's provision of hygiene kits, sexual and reproductive health kits, contraceptives, protective supplies and various promotional materials. This has contributed to strengthen, among other things, our response capacity relating to family planning and sexual and reproductive health, even in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Cuban Government keeps the population issue as a priority in its National Economic and Social Development Plan until 2030, and in such efforts, we express our commitment to the implementation of the Cairo Programme of Action, the Montevideo Consensus and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; as well as the Puebla Commitments, approved at the Regional Preparatory Meeting of Latin America and the Caribbean prior to the Nairobi Summit (Cairo+25).
Madam Chair,
With regard to the new Strategic Plan 2022-2025 development process, it should have at its core the three global transformative results for 2030 and be flexible enough to allow it to adapt to the various regional and national contexts and realities. It should in turn expand UNFPA's work in support of the national government´s efforts on issues such as population dynamics and aging, women´s empowerment and gender equality, maternal health and family planning.
Likewise, special attention should be paid to countries in special situations, including SIDS, as well as countries facing specific needs and challenges, such as "middle-income" countries.
Among the implementation methods, we believe that support for South-South and Triangular cooperation should be boosted as a complement to other sources of international cooperation, in which UNFPA has proven and extensive experience.
Madam President,
Allow me to conclude by expressing our confidence that UNFPA will continue to play an important role in addressing our particular development needs and goals in the future, in order to help ensure that no one and no country is left behind.
Thank you.